inheritance tax

noun

1. a tax levied on the right of an heir to receive a decedent's property, the rate being a percentage of the value of the property.

inheritance tax

noun

1. (in Britain) a tax introduced in 1986 to replace capital transfer tax, consisting of a percentage levied on that part of an inheritance exceeding a specified allowance, and scaled charges on gifts made within seven years of death

2. (in the US) a state tax imposed on an inheritance according to its size and the relationship of the beneficiary to the deceased

Word History and Origins

Origin of inheritance tax¹

First recorded in 1835–45

Related Words

• death tax 
• estate tax